My last few urban excursions sought to find NOW versions of buildings from the 1970s that I took back then (the old pix now scanned onto CDs). Google Maps has helped me search for some so as not to spend too much time hanging around studying houses. Recently someone was coming out her front door, noticed me standing on the sidewalk, and asked if she could help me. As in, why have you stopped on the sidewalk and are just standing there staring at houses? So with Google Maps I can explore the streets mostly at home until I pinpoint exactly where the target house is, or once was. Those who walk may discover microparks, new little gardens, and other interesting stuff that those in cars might not notice at all, including places that invite one to stop for a while. Where there used to be spaces bare of trees, plants, and color, now increasingly people are beautifying their neighborhoods and creating miniparks. On Russian Hill, Hyde between Green and Vallejo (Hyde Street cable car line), is the Hyde/Vallejo Minipark between two buildings: flowers, benches, trees: first two pics.

Over to Priest's 57 steps on Nob Hill. Up from Washington, it's a dead-end stairway/walk with an old wood railing on one side. Unfortunately for many years there's been a massive apt. building blocking the view east. Cable cars run on Washington at the foot of this stairway: cables singing and birds chirping.

Announced in the Park E-ventures online newsletter for the Presidio for May 2012: " …By mid-May, you’ll be able to experience the new trails and overlooks for yourself, without having to wear a fluorescent construction vest or hard hat…" Two new Overlooks, new dedicated bike lanes, new trails, and the Golden Gate Bridge's 75th anniversary happen in May. Check out:

http://www.parksconservancy.org

And tomorrow, Saturday, the 28th, is the opening celebration for the new Lands End Lookout.

The last pix are from a recent hike: Twin Peaks Park over to Mount Sutro and down Forest Knolls' Oakhurst stairway: